RE: effects of habitat change during the rut
I think it will have a dramatic effect within a couple of days. It happenend to me, 2 weeks ago the corn was cut down. Had been seeing does nightly and several good bucks, cruising the fields checking them out. Corns down 1 week, and I see nothing. I haven't gone 4 days all season without seeing deer up till now. Now it's 4 days in a row..Nothing.
No doe come to feed..no bucks come looking for does.
Just my recent expirience, sorry, to give you bad news.